Cats sneeze from time to time. It’s a natural reflex that helps to clear irritants from the nasal passages. In many cases, an occasional sneeze is nothing to worry about and might just be due to dust, pollen, or a tickle in your cat’s nose. However, frequent or persistent sneezing can sometimes signal an underlying health issue, ranging from mild allergies to more serious infections.

What Causes Cat Sneezing?

Knowing what causes your cat’s sneezing allows you to know the right steps to take for its treatment. To get you started, here are some of the causes of cat sneezing:

Allergies

Throughout their lives, cats can develop sensitivities and allergies to certain substances in their environment. These can include pollen, dust, mold, dirt, and many more allergens common outside. Aside from these environmental allergens, common household products such as cleaning products can also be the cause of your cat’s sneezing. Even helpful products such as air fresheners can irritate their noses.

Infections

One of the most common reasons for sneezing in cats is upper respiratory infections, which are often caused by viruses or bacteria. Viral infections are a frequent cause of sneezing in cats, especially in cat households or shelters where infections spread easily. The two most common viral infections are feline herpesvirus and feline calicivirus. Both FHV and FCV can cause frequent sneezing in cats.

Another type of infection that could lead to cat sneezing and other respiratory problems in cats is a bacterial infection. One of the most notable bacterial causes is Bordetella bronchiseptica, which can cause sneezing, coughing, and nasal discharge of a yellow or green color, especially in young kittens or cats in shelters. Bacterial infections are usually infections that follow up after the immune system is weakened, meaning they can get in and cause trouble in your cat’s respiratory system.

Aside from bacterial and viral infections, fungal infections can also cause sneezing in cats. One example is cryptococcosis. This happens when cats inhale the fungal spores, which are often found around the cat’s outdoor environment, such as soil, decaying wood, and other organic matter. In addition to sneezing, fungal infections can cause nasal discharge.

Foreign Objects

Sneezing can sometimes be the result of a foreign object getting stuck in your cat’s nasal passages. Cats, especially those that are curious and playful, may accidentally inhale small particles like grass, dirt, or other debris. When this happens, their bodies try to expel the object through sneezing. If your cat’s sneezing still continues for a long time, a foreign object might have gotten stuck in its nasal passages. It’s important to have immediate veterinary care.

Dental Disease

Dental disease is another surprising cause of sneezing in cats. Infections or inflammation in the teeth and gums, especially in the upper jaw, can affect the nasal passages as the infection spreads. Tooth root abscesses or severe gingivitis can lead to inflammation that spreads from the mouth to the nasal passages, causing sneezing. Cats with dental disease may also exhibit other signs like bad breath, difficulty eating, and drooling.

Nasal Tumors

Tumors in the nose can also cause chronic sneezing in cats since these masses can cause irritation within the nasal passage. These tumors can become bothersome, hindering airflow and causing extreme discomfort for cats. If your cat does not have a disease but still continues to sneeze, a tumor might be bothering its nasal passages, causing sneezing and, in some severe cases, a bloody discharge.

Diagnosing the Causes of Cat Sneezing

When cats sneeze, a disease is usually involved. Our team uses numerous methods to identify the cause of the symptom. Here are the methods we use to diagnose cat sneezing:

Physical Examination

During the initial exam, our vets will check your cat’s nose, throat, and eyes for signs of infection, discharge, or swelling. We’ll also monitor your cat’s breathing and check for any abnormal behaviors so we can detect any respiratory issues or nasal obstructions.

Nasal Swabs

We utilize a biopsy to check the outlying tissue for any bacterial or viral infections. Through this method, our in-house laboratory can check for any pathogens present. This will give a more accurate reading and diagnosis after our lab vets have fully examined the sample.

Blood Tests

Blood tests help detect infections, inflammation, and other conditions that may weaken your cat’s immune system. These tests can identify the change in the number of cells present in your cat, which can give us a brief overview of what it is experiencing with sneezing.

Imaging Techniques

If a foreign object, tumor, or nasal tumor is suspected, our vets may recommend X-rays or a CT scan. These diagnostic imaging tools help our team see the underlying issue in a clearer way, allowing us to give a more definitive diagnosis if something is obstructing your cat’s nasal passageway.

Rhinoscopy

In more complex cases, we may use an endoscope, a small camera inserted into the nasal passages, to examine the nasal cavity more closely. This allows for a visual inspection of polyps, tumors, or deep-seated infections that may not be visible on X-rays and may include a biopsy for further analysis.

Treatment for Cat Sneezing

When your cat is constantly sneezing, treatments will depend on the severity of the disease. While certain diseases can be treated and managed with general medicines, there will be times when more comprehensive solutions will be needed. To give you an idea, here are the common treatments for cat sneezing:

Antihistamines or Steroids

If allergies are the cause of your cat’s sneezing, antihistamines and steroids might be great options to help manage its symptoms. Antihistamines can help reduce your cat’s allergic reactions by blocking histamine receptors, allowing the sneezing to subside. In other cases, steroids can also be used to reduce the inflammation, especially if the allergies have led to an irritation of the nasal passages. 

To support these treatments, avoiding the allergens responsible for your cat’s sneezing will greatly help them recover.

Antimicrobials 

Antimicrobial medications are the medicines that attack the microorganisms responsible for causing your cat’s sneezing. Antiviral treatments will be used to help manage the symptoms of viral infections. Because certain viral infections, such as FHV and FCR, can’t be cured, supportive and management care techniques are usually used. That’s why vaccinations are super important in helping your cat’s body fight off the viruses.

When it comes to bacterial infections, antibiotics will be used. These medications often have a specific routine that should be followed in order to help your cat fully recover. Among the most popular options for antibiotics, in this case, are doxycycline and amoxicillin. Similarly, fungal infections require antifungal treatments to help manage your cat’s sneezing.

Dental Treatment

If your cat’s sneezing is caused by dental diseases, addressing the dental issue itself is essential for recovery. These treatment options depend on the issue but may involve dental cleaning, scaling, tooth extractions, and antibiotics. These dental procedures help reduce the infection and inflammation that may potentially spread from the mouth to the nasal passages. Regular cat dental care is always a good idea to support this treatment.

Surgery

In cases where sneezing is caused by nasal tumors, surgical intervention will be the main treatment option. For nasal tumors, which can be benign or malignant, further diagnostics, such as biopsies or imaging techniques, may be required to determine the best treatment approach. 

Supportive Care

To accompany these various treatment options, supportive care treatments such as fluid therapy and diet changes will be provided. These will make use of IV fluids to help maintain your cat’s hydration levels. As for a diet change, prescription and hypoallergenic diets will be utilized to keep your cat well-nourished while it recovers.

Preventing Cat Sneezing

While it may be tricky to avoid cat sneezing, there are some things you can do at home to help reduce the chances of sneezing. Here are some ways to prevent cat sneezing:

Keep the Home Clean

One of the simplest ways to reduce sneezing in cats is by keeping their environment free of dust, mold, and other airborne irritants. Regularly vacuuming carpets, rugs, and furniture can help reduce allergens. Using an air purifier can also improve air quality by trapping dust and allergens, which is particularly helpful if your cat has known respiratory sensitivities. 

Keep Your Cat’s Vaccinations Up to Date

Vaccinations play an important role in preventing dangerous infections like feline herpesvirus and calicivirus. These viral infections are some of the most common causes of upper respiratory issues in cats, leading to symptoms such as sneezing and fever. Coordinating your cat’s vaccination schedule helps a ton in protecting your cat from potential viral infections that could cause sneezing.

Routine Veterinary Check-ups

Regular visits to the vet clinic are super helpful in keeping your cat’s health in good condition. With a simple checkup, we can catch any potential diseases that could create severe health concerns. These include physical examinations and dental checkups, so we can make sure your cat’s sneezing is given immediate treatment.

Conclusion

While sneezing is normal for cats, it may be a concern if this goes on for a longer period of time. Pair it up with a couple of other symptoms, and your cat’s sneezing might mean a more serious issue. Knowledge in simple things, such as a cat sneezing, can allow you to get to know your cat more and help you give your best friend the care and attention it needs.